Example Sentences#

1. 이번엔 좀 색다르게 놀아보자.¹
   Let’s try to do something a bit different this time.
   • 놀다 means ‘to play’ or ‘to have fun’.
   • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement, meaning ‘to try doing something’.
   • -자 is an informal sentence ending used to suggest, propose, or encourage an action, often translated as ‘let’s’.
2. 앨리스: 앨리스는 이 말을 부정할 수 없다고 느껴서 다른 질문을 해 보았다.²
   Alice: Feeling that she couldn’t deny this, Alice asked another question.
   • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
   • -여 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
   • 았 is a past tense marker.
   • -다 is the plain declarative ending used to state facts or describe events in an impersonal, neutral tone without addressing a specific listener, found in objective narration (stories, articles, diaries), self-directed speech, announcements, and emphatic exclamations.
3. 아니면 살짝 웃어볼까³
   Or should I give a soft smile?
   • 웃다 means ‘to smile’.
   • -어 보다 is a grammatical construction where 보다 (to see) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
   • -ㄹ까 is a question ending indicating curiosity, wonder, or uncertainty, often reflecting deliberation or weighing options. It can suggest actions to do together (‘Shall we…?’), ask someone’s opinion or show curiosity about a situation (‘Do you think…?’), or express personal deliberation about one’s own actions (‘Shall I…?’).
4. 나연: 야, 너 인스타 보니까 최근에 콘서트 갔다 왔더라?⁴
   Nayeon: Hey, I saw on your Instagram that you went to a concert recently?
   • 보다 means ‘to see’.
   • (으)니까 is a connective ending used to indicate that the preceding statement is the cause, reason, or basis for the following statement, emphasizing the speaker’s subjective reasoning.
5. 지수: 요즘 봤던 드라마 중에 뭐가 제일 기억에 남아?⁵
   Jisoo: Among the dramas you’ve watched recently, which one remains most memorable?
   • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
   • -았던 combines the past tense marker -았- with the retrospective modifier -던, which is derived from -더-, a suffix conveying past personal experience or observation, combined with the modifier -ㄴ, which turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun. It marks recalled past actions or states that were fully completed or occurred as one-time or temporary events, and are no longer ongoing, with a nuance of disconnection from the present context.
6. 한 번도 본 적 없는 하늘색⁶
   A sky color I’ve never seen before
   • 보다 means ‘to see’.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
7. 그는 마을의 지도자의 멋진 행사를 보고 질투를 느꼈고, 더 큰 힘을 원하여 지도자가 되기를 원했습니다.⁷
   He felt jealous after seeing the village leader’s wonderful event, and wanted greater power to become a leader.
   • 보다 means ‘to see’.
   • -고 is a connective ending used to link two actions or states, meaning ‘and’, or to join the main verb to auxiliary verbs.
8. 도둑은 떨어지면 호랑이에게 잡아먹힐까 봐 등을 꽉 붙잡았습니다.⁸
   The thief, afraid he would be eaten by the tiger if he fell off, held on tightly to its back.
   • 보다 means ‘to see’, and can also mean ‘to judge’ or ‘to assess’ depending on context.
   • The pattern -ㄹ까 보다 is used to express fear or worry that the situation in the preceding clause might happen. It translates as ‘afraid that…’ or ‘worried that…’.
   • -아서 is a connective ending indicating cause or reason. In this context, 서 is omitted.
9. 네가 원하는 쪽으로 가 봐.²
   Go whichever way you want.
   • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
   • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
   • 아 is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
10. 조금만 더 내게 다가와 봐³
    Come a little closer to me
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -아 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • 아 is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
11. 최근에 고척스카이돔에서 블랙핑크 공연 봤어.⁴
    I recently saw the BLACKPINK concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • -았- is a past tense marker.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
12. 지수: 그리고 사이코지만 괜찮아 봤어?⁵
    Jisoo: And have you watched ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’?
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • 았 is the past tense marker.
    • 어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.
13. 더 멀리 가볼래, 한 번 더⁶
    I want to go farther, one more time
    • 가다 means ‘to go’.
    • -아 보다 is a grammatical construction where 보다 (to see) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • -ㄹ래 is an informal ending used to express the speaker’s firm intention to undertake a future action, or to ask about the listener’s willingness, often framed as a suggestion or invitation.
14. 태양의 엄청난 힘을 보면서 자신이 작게 느껴졌습니다.⁷
    Seeing the enormous power of the sun, he felt small.
    • 보다 means ‘to see’.
    • 면서 is a connective ending indicating simultaneous actions.
15. 근데 너 일본에서도 공연 본 거 아니야?⁴
    By the way, didn’t you also see a concert in Japan?
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
16. 태민: 봤지!⁵
    Taemin: I watched it!
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • 았 is the past tense marker.
    • -지 is a sentence-ending particle that conveys the speaker’s presumption of shared understanding with the listener. In the declarative mood, it expresses certainty or strong affirmation, often asserting something believed to be obvious or mutually understood. In the interrogative mood, it seeks confirmation, softening the question’s tone and making it less direct, or poses self-directed questions that lightly invite shared consideration. In the imperative mood, it softens the command, making it less forceful.
17. 너와 나, 웃으며 춤춰 봐³
    You and I, let’s smile and dance
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to try’.
    • -어 보다 is used to indicate that one attempts or tests the action described in the preceding statement.
    • 아 is the imperative ending used in informal speech.
18. 현우: 응, 사이타마에서 즛토마요 콘서트 봤어.⁴
    Hyunwoo: Yeah, I saw ZUTOMAYO in Saitama.
    • 보다 means ‘to see’ or ‘to watch’.
    • -았- is a past tense marker.
    • -어 is a casual ending used in informal speech.